10 Signs You May Have High-Functioning Depression

You may have depression without knowing. Did you know that there’s a form of depression that allows you to function normally, even though you just don’t feel right? Anyone looking at you would praise how successful you are or how organized your life seems to be. But at the end of the day, you simply have nothing of yourself left to give. You feel drained and fatigued.

This is a high-functioning depression. On the outside, you seem to be flourishing, but inside you feel suicidal. The following signs will help you determine whether you have a high-functioning depression.

1. You easily become irritable

This type of depression can easily be masked by irritability because everyone tends to become irritable every now and then. However, if you find that you are irritable, moody and cranky, but not sad, then you may have high-functioning depression. This is especially true if you have noticed that you increasingly become irritated by small issues.

2. You’re no longer excited by the things you used to love

Nothing you do nowadays brings you the joy it used to. You find yourself feeling sadder than normal. You don’t spend your day lazing in bed but you still feel as if the world is ending. You notice that you avoid doing the things you once loved doing because they now seem like a chore. Most people with high-functioning depression suffer from low energy so they find it hard to do anything.

3. High-functioning depression makes you fatigued

While it’s normal to feel sluggish when you’re not getting enough sleep or are pulling late nights because of work, it’s not normal to feel fatigued even after a good night’s rest. If you constantly feel like you don’t have the mental capacity to get through the day then you may be suffering from mild depression. On the flip side, it may just be a phase you’re going through. But if you notice that it seems to become a daily thing, then you should be concerned.

4. You have trouble making decisions

One of the biggest signs of depression is self-doubt and once that creeps in, you find yourself taking forever to make simple decisions. And once you do make a decision, you begin second guessing it. You wonder if it was the right one to make and whether there were better alternatives. Depression makes you focus on what you didn’t do and cripples you to the point where you can’t make a decision on what you need to do.

5. You criticize yourself and others too much

Judging yourself is a healthy way of checking on your self-growth and determining how good you are compared to yesterday. However, if you find that you are constantly critical of how you do things, even the little things, then you may be depressed. It doesn’t stop at self-judgment. High-functioning depression can also make you very critical of others, which leads to a constant cycle of negative thought patterns which only increase your depression.

6. High-functioning depression easily gets you emotional

Do you shed tears at the smallest misfortune or provocation? Do you find yourself losing control over your emotions when it comes to things that are otherwise normal? For instance, misplacing your phone or spilling soda on yourself are things that can happen to anyone. Most people brush it off and go on with their day. However, if you find that you easily cry and get angry with things like that then this is another sign that you may be suffering from mild depression.

7. You’re having difficulty focusing

When suffering from this type of depression, you’ll often find difficulty in focusing at work, home, school or any other activity that engages your mind. Have you ever found yourself spacing out while your friend is telling you a story? Or you’re at the movies and find that you can’t remember what happened for half an hour during the movie? Spacing out once in a while is normal, but if you find it difficult to focus for anything for long, then you may have high-functioning depression.

8. You’re going through the motions

Do you wake up on a Monday and fall asleep only to realize it’s Friday? Do you find yourself simply going through the motions of your day to day life without paying attention to what you are doing? If this is so, then you may have mild depression. A sign that you may be depressed even though you’re functioning normally is a lack of pleasure. You’re simply going through the motions without registering what you’re doing or how you’re feeling.

9. You feel physical pain

Did you know that depression can show up in your body as aches and pains? If you find you have unexplainable aches on your body, then you need to check whether you have high-functioning depression or not. The pain varies from mild to crippling. It can be a headache that always comes at a specific time in the day. Or it could also be an ache in your shoulders that you always brush off as having not slept properly, or your mattress being too old. It may be time to check with your doctor if you always have a pain that you cannot explain away.

10. You have trouble sleeping

There are many reasons why you may have trouble falling and staying asleep, such as too much caffeine right before bed or too much excitement. Your room might also either be too warm or too cold such that you have trouble sleeping. However, if you find yourself worrying about things you have no control over, then you might have high-functioning depression. If you suspect that this may be the reason why you are not falling asleep, then it is advisable that you speak to a therapist or doctor.

Conclusion

If you have any of these signs, it is advisable for you to see a doctor, or a therapist who will give you a way forward on dealing with this form of depression.